Hannah Greenblatt
What historical figure is similar to Lady Macbeth?
The Historical person who best resembles Lady Macbeth.
The historical figure who best depicts Lady Macbeth in history is Ann Boleyn. The two women both had a desired (desire) to be Queen, could not produce an heir to the throne, and forced their husbands to do certain “acts” in order to achieve their goals. (excellent intro)
Desire to Be Queen
Lady Macbeth was excited about the idea of becoming queen. However, Lady Macbeth had a few more obstacles to overcome than Ann Boleyn. Nevertheless(,) Lady Macbeth was willing to do what ever (whatever) she needed in order to become the Queen of Scotland, even if it meant murder. Ann Boleyn had a somewhat similar situation. Ann fell in love with King Henry VIII, and was unwilling to become just another in a long line of Henry's mistresses. Ann wanted marriage knowing all the while that a current wife and a divorce was(were) standing between her and the crown. No Male Heir to Throne In the play Macbeth(,)one of the reasons Macbeth can not rule forever is because he and Lady Macbeth never had any children, specifically a male. The witches tell Macbeth that he will be King and to Banquo state:(change to a comma)“Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none” (1.3.67). Because Lady Macbeth never gave Macbeth a child(,) their legacy could not continue beyond Macbeth. Like Lady Macbeth, after Ann Boleyn became Queen, she hoped to become the mother of the next King.Ann and Henry’s first child was a daughter, which was followed by a miscarriage. Ann finally had a son which (who) died at birth, and the news was not popular with the people of England. Henry began to become impatient with Ann and her inability to produce a suitable heir to the throne. Henry accused Ann of adultery and sent her to the Tower of London to be beheaded. Before her execution(,) Ann stated: (change to a comma) “I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord.”
A Force behind a Man
Lady Macbeth was the push Macbeth needed in order to become King. Lady Macbeth was more evil and conniving than Macbeth and more of a “man” in a sense. If Lady Macbeth wanted to become Queen(,) she knew she would have to force her husband into doing certain acts that he would not have thought of doing and carrying out on his own. Lady Macbeth made sure Macbeth went through with the murder of Duncan so that she would be able to be called “Queen”. In act I l(L)ady Macbeth makes sure Macbeth will go through with the murder by saying(,)
What beast was’t then
that made you break this enterprise to me?
When you durst do it, then you were a man;
And to be more than you were, you would
be so much more than a man. (1.6.48-51)
In Anne Boleyn’s case, King Henry VIII was currently married to Catherine of Aragon at the time when Anne Boleyn was obtaining thoughts of marrying the King. Also Anne’s sister Marywas Henry’s Mistress, who received much scandal. Henry fell in love with Anne, causing her to demand that the King marry her. The King could not receive an annulment from the Catholic church, leaving divorce as his only option to marry Anne. If Henry chose to divorce Catherine(,) it would mean breaking away from the Catholic church and reforming England. Anne was persistent in wanting a marriage(,) so the king went through with the divorce and broke from the Catholic church,(run-on) it took seven years to do so.
What historical figure is similar to Lady Macbeth?
The Historical person who best resembles Lady Macbeth.
The historical figure who best depicts Lady Macbeth in history is Ann Boleyn. The two women both had a desired (desire) to be Queen, could not produce an heir to the throne, and forced their husbands to do certain “acts” in order to achieve their goals. (excellent intro)
Desire to Be Queen
Lady Macbeth was excited about the idea of becoming queen. However, Lady Macbeth had a few more obstacles to overcome than Ann Boleyn. Nevertheless(,) Lady Macbeth was willing to do what ever (whatever) she needed in order to become the Queen of Scotland, even if it meant murder. Ann Boleyn had a somewhat similar situation. Ann fell in love with King Henry VIII, and was unwilling to become just another in a long line of Henry's mistresses. Ann wanted marriage knowing all the while that a current wife and a divorce was(were) standing between her and the crown.
No Male Heir to Throne
In the play Macbeth(,)one of the reasons Macbeth can not rule forever is because he and Lady Macbeth never had any children, specifically a male. The witches tell Macbeth that he will be King and to Banquo state:(change to a comma) “Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none” (1.3.67).
Because Lady Macbeth never gave Macbeth a child(,) their legacy could not continue beyond Macbeth. Like Lady Macbeth, after Ann Boleyn became Queen, she hoped to become the mother of the next King. Ann and Henry’s first child was a daughter, which was followed by a miscarriage. Ann finally had a son which (who) died at birth, and the news was not popular with the people of England. Henry began to become impatient with Ann and her inability to produce a suitable heir to the throne. Henry accused Ann of adultery and sent her to the Tower of London to be beheaded. Before her execution(,) Ann stated: (change to a comma) “I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord.”
A Force behind a Man
Lady Macbeth was the push Macbeth needed in order to become King. Lady Macbeth was more evil and conniving than Macbeth and more of a “man” in a sense. If Lady Macbeth wanted to become Queen(,) she knew she would have to force her husband into doing certain acts that he would not have thought of doing and carrying out on his own. Lady Macbeth made sure Macbeth went through with the murder of Duncan so that she would be able to be called “Queen”. In act I l(L)ady Macbeth makes sure Macbeth will go through with the murder by saying(,)What beast was’t then
that made you break this enterprise to me?
When you durst do it, then you were a man;
And to be more than you were, you would
be so much more than a man. (1.6.48-51)
In Anne Boleyn’s case, King Henry VIII was currently married to Catherine of Aragon at the time when Anne Boleyn was obtaining thoughts of marrying the King. Also Anne’s sister Marywas Henry’s Mistress, who received much scandal. Henry fell in love with Anne, causing her to demand that the King marry her. The King could not receive an annulment from the Catholic church, leaving divorce as his only option to marry Anne. If Henry chose to divorce Catherine(,) it would mean breaking away from the Catholic church and reforming England. Anne was persistent in wanting a marriage(,) so the king went through with the divorce and broke from the Catholic church,(run-on) it took seven years to do so.
A conclusion would be nice.
Good analysis!